Is anyone subscribed to EZ-Pass in a different state than the one they live in?

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 12:16pm

pquesinb

9 years

Hi,

We live in Maryland, where O'Malley started charging us a $1.50/month "administrative fee" for absolutely nothing, so we canceled our EZ-pass. We use it enough that we'd like to pick one up again but only if there is no fee involved, so I've been looking at neighboring states' EZ-Pass programs.

It looks like the best deals are through DRJTBC, Peace Bridge and Virginia. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with any of these agencies before we sign back up, though.

Seems to have been a pretty dumb move on Maryland's part though as a bunch of folks have just dumped their EZ-Pass accounts, increasing the need for paid toll-collection personnel. Let's spend lots of money on this great automated system and then do everything we can to reduce the demand for it... great idea.

I-Zoom

Called I-Zoom here in Indiana also recognized I think in 23 or 26 other states. $1.00 per month, administrative fee. But worth every penny when I zoom by the long lines at the 1 or 2 manual toll booths they now have open, even during rush hours.

Peace Bridge

A co-worker has a Peace Bridge transponder and has never had a problem. Did everything over the internet and got it in the mail.

Another co-worker has FastLane out of Massachusettes. I see on the website it asks you for your home state, but if you choose Mass., the online application doesn't seem to default to Mass so you may be able to get one online and have to mailed to Maryland.

NJ discount tolls

helenekaplan wrote:

I live in NJ, account is in NY. But I definitely agree with TheProf

TheProf wrote:

I just heard that NJ will be charging the full toll for any out-of-state EZPass. Discounted tolls will be for NJ EZPass only. I tend to think that is illegal but haven't heard any outrage in the media yet.

You'll have to have a transponder eventually, or avoid toll road

I believe that before too much longer, they will all but force you to have a toll transponder if you want to use toll roads. Parts of the Florida Turnpike for example near Miami and Tampa are already totally cashless, and the goal is to go totally cashless on that highway eventually. Making and counting change is much more expensive to toll roads than transponders, and it delays traffic, ticking people off. Eventually, they will all go this route.

We live in MD too & we also

We live in MD too & we also gave up our E-Z Pass because of the monthly charges. With the reduction to travel due to much higher gasoline prices, we've found that the toll booths are navigable as long as you don't try to get thru during rush hour.

I don't mind giving them a higher deposit, but refuse to pay the monthly charge when all it does is help reduce the state costs.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a Fast Lane easypass. We travelled cross country with it. Although it didn't work everywhere, it worked in some states we passed through.
When I got it, I had to pay $25 for the transponder, now they are free.
We spent some time in Texas and picked up the transponder for their area, because if you accidentally get on one of their "transponder only" highways, you can get fined big time.
For more info go to: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/fastlane/main.aspx

Welcome to FAST LANE, MassDOT's Electronic Toll Collection Program. FAST LANE is operational on the entire Massachusetts Turnpike including the Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels, and on the Tobin Memorial Bridge. FAST LANE is also operational anywhere E-ZPass is accepted.

That's another reason to abandon MD for me

dagarmin wrote:

I believe that before too much longer, they will all but force you to have a toll transponder if you want to use toll roads. Parts of the Florida Turnpike for example near Miami and Tampa are already totally cashless, and the goal is to go totally cashless on that highway eventually. Making and counting change is much more expensive to toll roads than transponders, and it delays traffic, ticking people off. Eventually, they will all go this route.

We have the "Inter-County Connector" here in suburban MD just north of DC and it has no collection booths whatsoever. It's a road that's been badly needed for 10+ years and at the very end of the debate to build it (save the frogs & turtles) it became a toll road. If you travel on it without a transponder they will send you a bill for the $1.50 toll plus a ($10?) collection fee!

Since I can usually find other ways than I95 to get north out of MD and south back in, and rarely go to the overcrowded beach (the only other two reasons to pay a toll in MD), I too am looking for a non-fee or no fee EZ Pass.

So pquesinb, have you got enough notes yet to post a comparison list for us??

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

Here you go!

My sis loans her I-Pass to anyone driving over to Chicago. She has to add the vehicle to her account before we go. Does the toll booth camera verify the info for each transaction? Just wondering?

Don't know how it is in her area, but per the AAA, in NY it is suggested that you list vehicles on your account, but not required. If you go through the toll booth and your EZ Pass doesn't register, you will be billed for the toll amount if your plate is on your account. If the plate isn't on record, it is considered an attempt to avoid the toll, and you will receive a fine on top of the toll amount.

Denver E-470

The Denver E-470 is also a transponder only toll road. their system seems not compatible with EZ-pass or I-Pass. When you rent a car from Denver airport (DEN), be aware that all vehicles are equipped with transponder, and your usage will be activated once you hit this toll road, and begin to charge daily fee by rental company for as long as your rental period is EVEN IF you use only once.

State fees vary

This thread brings up the fact that each state has different costs. There are two costs to consider: Price per transponder and Cost per month. Some give the transponder while others charge up to $25. Some charge nothing per month for having the account while others seem to go from 50 cents to $1.50 per month.

In addition to the states there a bridge authorities that also issue tags. Not all states will allow out-of-state residents get transponders. I have not seen any chart comparing all the issuers on these factors. It sounds like a good project for someone to start.

Remember that the transponders have a limited life. Mine seem to last 3 to 5 years. Using a local agency that has an office you can visit makes switching easier as you must return the dead transponder, which can be a pain.

E-470 Rental toll fees vary

abin wrote:

The Denver E-470 is also a transponder only toll road. their system seems not compatible with EZ-pass or I-Pass. When you rent a car from Denver airport (DEN), be aware that all vehicles are equipped with transponder, and your usage will be activated once you hit this toll road, and begin to charge daily fee by rental company for as long as your rental period is EVEN IF you use only once.

This is not true regarding the fees. Different companies have different charges. It can be as little as $2 extra over the toll fee.

EZ-pass

I have both the NY EZ-pass and the SunPass from Florida.
The NY pass is free and the One from FL is $25.
Thw FL pass is only good in FL but I have used the NY pass from FL to ND it is called different names in other states but still wokrs.
Even with a service charge it is still worth it.
While zipping through the pass lane just look at all the cars waiting in line at the cash lanes.

A Comparison List

I've sent pquesinb an email about comparing notes for building a comparison list, and maybe we can post it here when done?

Like I said before, I'm "in the market" myself.

(And cheap as well as p.o.'ed at MD )

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

two dollars per day.. but..

brentrn wrote:

abin wrote:

The Denver E-470 is also a transponder only toll road. their system seems not compatible with EZ-pass or I-Pass. When you rent a car from Denver airport (DEN), be aware that all vehicles are equipped with transponder, and your usage will be activated once you hit this toll road, and begin to charge daily fee by rental company for as long as your rental period is EVEN IF you use only once.

This is not true regarding the fees. Different companies have different charges. It can be as little as $2 extra over the toll fee.

http://www.e-470.com/Default.aspx?pn=Rental%20Car%20Information

yes. the charge varies.. taking example of $2 charge per day, if you rent for one week, and use only once on second day, you can be billed for rest of week until you hit weekly/monthly cap. This is what I have experienced.

Va is a bad deal

When I checked, VA required a $25 deposit on each transponder. I have 2. They also require an absurdly high balance of $35 per unit. That's $120 to switch to VA and a refresh of $70 vs $25. I have a single small balance shared by both units and no deposit. My monthly fee is $0.75 per transponder.

abin wrote:

Box Car wrote:

gdfaini wrote:

I live in VA but have a MD E-ZPass. I don't like the $1.50 per month fee, but the VA plan is horrible.

I dumped my MD EZ-Pass for a VA one. The initial deposit was higher, but with no monthly fee you make that up in a few months. Been using my VA pass for about 2 years now with no problems.

for 2 years.. that is more than 35 dollars, the initial deposit you have to put in.

Only if it fails to read.

Open Road Tollways don't have toll booths that everyone needs to pass. You don't even have to slow down on the IL toll roads with the iPass. But if a transponder fails to register, you are subject to a $100 ticket, unless your plates are registered with the state.

Fee Discount?

Now, the question is:
"Is a $0/mo. fee (like Illinois) the best to use when traveling/temp living on the East Coast USA?" ~H.

Do you mean a discount on the fees or on the local toll roads/bridges

If it's on the local roads, then yes it's looking like most have some type of discount plan that obviously would be of benefit if you use those roads/bridges the most.

Otherwise, most States don't honor other States resident, area, or commuter discounts. I think the exceptions might be NY/NJ, IL/IN, and DRJTBC, etc.

I'm also finding the Wikipedia list to be a bit inaccurate for some fees, and I just discovered that on the sites where they ask you to 'pick your state' first in the signup process, that if you choose the 'home' state you don't have to be a resident on the actual application. I suspect that it's a 'courtesy' to the other states by making it not so obvious you don't have to be a resident. However, it appears that different "Authorities" may have contracts with different "Service Centers", and I found a thread that mentions NY sending the account to another service center (with different fees) for admin depending on your mailing address.

In all of the silly FAQ questions, I've yet to see one that asks "Do I have to be a Resident?". A bit odd, don't you think? That's why I think it's an admin contract thing.

It's all very interesting so far.

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

Live in NH and have a

Live in NH and have a MA(Fast Lane) account. Only because at the time we got it, several years ago, NH did not have EZ-Pass and my wife and I were and still do a lot of travel through NY,NJ,PA and south. Just have never bothered to change, no reason too.

Go Figure I switched my NJ EZ-Pass for Maryland EZ-Pass

Go Figure I switched my NJ EZ-Pass a few years ago for a Maryland EZ-Pass because @ the time NJ impossed a fee and Maryland did not. I do recall Maryland adding the $1.50 fee a month, but I did not care it is worth it to avoid the Long cash lines @ the tolls. Now that it is summer time and I have time to look I will look around to see who does not have a fee and switch.

Making my brain hurt

This is making my brain hurt, but so far the best deals (of those that obviously don't try to divert you to your home state, and who have online sign-up) are:
Illinois, Indiana, DRJTBC.

However, if you don't mind picking their state on the web site just to get to the application, or you fill out a mail form, then it looks like:
Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey

Only no fee/no deposit is Mass, VA. Ohio is a runner-up with $0.75 mth fee and no deposit but $3 shipping/handling.

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

No discount?

bsp131 wrote:

helenekaplan wrote:

I live in NJ, account is in NY. But I definitely agree with TheProf

TheProf wrote:

I just heard that NJ will be charging the full toll for any out-of-state EZPass. Discounted tolls will be for NJ EZPass only. I tend to think that is illegal but haven't heard any outrage in the media yet.

I haven't heard anything about that (yet). But I so rarely go anywhere that I don't really notice.

VA requires separate balance per unit

gdfaini wrote:

When I checked, VA required a $25 deposit on each transponder. I have 2. They also require an absurdly high balance of $35 per unit. That's $120 to switch to VA and a refresh of $70 vs $25. I have a single small balance shared by both units and no deposit. My monthly fee is $0.75 per transponder.

abin wrote:

Box Car wrote:

gdfaini wrote:

I live in VA but have a MD E-ZPass. I don't like the $1.50 per month fee, but the VA plan is horrible.

I dumped my MD EZ-Pass for a VA one. The initial deposit was higher, but with no monthly fee you make that up in a few months. Been using my VA pass for about 2 years now with no problems.

for 2 years.. that is more than 35 dollars, the initial deposit you have to put in.

that is correct, VA requires $35 balance per unit instead of per account. I need only one transponder, so, it does not bother me at all.
Either they changed policy on security deposit for each transponder which is $25, or I could not remember exactly, it seems to me I was not asked for that deposit when I created my account a few years ago (because I chose to use credit card for autoreplenish?)

Comparison So Far

I need to double check it, but can't do it right away, so buyer beware :grin:

If there is a blank spot it means I'm even less sure I got it right than some of the other info!

It's 'almost' sorted cheapest to most expensive??

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

Checking balances on line

It is a good thing to check your balances on line for errors.
On one trip from Fl to NY I found a big error in their billing.
I was driving a car, but at one toll I was charged as a truck. When I called them they told me the sensor read me as a truck. I was told to watch my back when coming up to a toll booth for cars tailgating me. If a car can ride close enough to you it will read as extra axles on your car and read you as a truck.(And bill you as such)
After they checked my rout and saw the other tolls I paid they changed the bill. (I could not go from a car to a truck and back that fast)
So always check you back at tolls!

Tolls automatically collected by camera reading tags

dagarmin wrote:

..snip..Parts of the Florida Turnpike for example near Miami and Tampa are already totally cashless, and the goal is to go totally cashless on that highway eventually....snip...quote]

I live in Florida and about 10 years ago I went to a Toll Road meeting where the commission was presenting things 'soon' to come. One of the methods of getting toll fees was to read tags with video cameras and if you went through a tool booth without paying you were dinged in the mail for the fee. They said further that in the future that would be the method of collecting tolls if you didn't have a transponder.

Of course at that time, no mention was made of fees for having to read the tag versus not have a transponder. With cash strapped states looking to get money any way they can I'm sure the fees will go up in numerous ways.

Thank God most of my travel is in the south and on interstates, that aren't tolled, if I'm in a car/truck. On my motorcycle I would never go on a toll road in the first place, as I view it as a more leasurely mode of transportation. Slow down and smell the roses sort of deal.

Wade in NW Florida, underemployed engineer.

--Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people
to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of
the roads weren't paved.

pa vs del

JD4x4 wrote:

OK, here's my comparison so far.
I need to double check it, but can't do it right away, so buyer beware
If there is a blank spot it means I'm even less sure I got it right than some of the other info!
It's 'almost' sorted cheapest to most expensive??

I'm thinking about getting one of these for a couple of upcoming trips. This comparison is great. I don't really have the time to wait for one in the mail, so I've narrowed it down to DE vs PA (I live in PA). 6 bucks a year sucks, but I'm not sure how I like DE's auto-replenish to an unspecified amount.
Thanks for the info!!
Kevin

Well,

chewie8han wrote:

I'm thinking about getting one of these for a couple of upcoming trips. This comparison is great. I don't really have the time to wait for one in the mail, so I've narrowed it down to DE vs PA (I live in PA). 6 bucks a year sucks, but I'm not sure how I like DE's auto-replenish to an unspecified amount.
Thanks for the info!!
Kevin

Well, go to their site (DE)..it might be that I was way bleary-eyed & missed it! They don't specifically state it (or I missed it) but I'd suspect that DE's refresh amt is their starting min. of $25, or some amount of month's actual use whichever is higher. Most of them seem to work that way.

I too, like PA, WV, or VA being here in MD.

..so far.

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

NY is tough to figure

I need to double check it, but can't do it right away, so buyer beware

I have a NY EZ-Pass (TBTA), there is no annual fee. They were charging $1/month for a while, but they eliminated that about 5 years ago.

Yeah.. NY was (is) a tough one to nail I think, because thare are (3?) different service centers depending on who you sign up with and where you live (?).

--It's about the Line-
If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

It is confusing...

The NYS Legislature passed a law eliminating monthly/annual fees in 2006. If you sign up with the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, there is no monthly fee, as they are responsible for the crossings in New York City, entirely within NYS. The NY State Thruway Authority also issues the EZPass, and there is no monthly/annual fee through them either, as again, it is wholly within NYS.

If you sign up with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, there is a fee, as the PA is bi-state agency, and typically ignores the laws of both states